Jersey City Housing Authority to Open Public Housing Waitlist

Qualifying Individuals Will Have the Opportunity to Apply Online for Public Housing From August 6 through August 12

JERSEY CITY –– Mayor Steven Fulop and the Jersey City Housing Authority (JCHA) are pleased to announce the opening of JCHA’s Public Housing Program Waitlist on August 6, 2018. The Waitlist will remain open until Sunday, August 12, 2018, and will only be available online via the JCHA website, JerseyCityHA.myhousing.com. The reopening of the Waitlist will allow eligible low-income families to apply for a wide range of affordable housing opportunities at the JCHA’s nine public housing sites. These include five family sites: Booker T Washington, Curries Woods, Holland Gardens, Hudson Gardens, and Marion Gardens; two senior housing sites: Berry Gardens and TJ Stewart; and senior/disabled units at Curries Woods.

To qualify for public housing, a family’s combined annual gross income may not exceed federal HUD Income Limits (visit the JCHA website – JerseyCityHA.myhousing.com –to review household size to income ratio table). Applicants should only apply to properties for which they are eligible (e.g., only those age 62 or older may apply to elderly-designated properties). Applicants who live and/or work in Jersey City will be given preference over non-residents.

The JCHA website -- JerseyCityHA.myhousing.com – will have comprehensive instructions for submitting a successful online application, which is available in both English and Spanish. In addition, city departments and local community organizations have been trained to assist residents in completing applications. A dozen organizations attended a training and application demonstration session last week and many including the Jersey City Public Library System, PACO, Covenant House, the Jersey City Divisions of Veterans Affairs, Senior Affairs and Injury Prevention, Urban League, the Jersey City Resident Response Center, Community Solutions, St. Lucy’s Shelter, Touched by an Angel, Church World Services, and New City Kids will have computers and staff available to assist applicants. To view a current list of community organizations and city departments that can assist applicants in submitting applications online, visit www.jcha-us.gov. Individuals with special needs, including visual impairment, can contact the JCHA for assistance.

After submission, applicants will receive a confirmation number immediately; notification of their selection status will arrive via email and regular mail in approximately ten weeks. Once the Waitlist is closed, a set number of preliminary applications will be selected using a computerized random selection process (lottery). This means it is possible that not everyone who applies will be placed on the waiting list. Those applicants who are not selected will able to reapply the next time the waiting list reopens. For those applicants who are selected into the lottery, as apartments become available, JCHA will contact those applicants by mail and email based upon their position on the waiting list.

“The JCHA Waitlist being on the brink of opening lifts the spirits of many Jersey City residents who’ve been patiently waiting for their chance to access our City’s growing stock of affordable housing,” said Steven M. Fulop, Mayor. “The JCHA’s singular focus remains on creating and investing in quality affordable housing opportunities for our residents and the communities we serve. We are proud of our continued investment in finding innovating and equitable ways to expand affordability throughout the City.”

“JCHA is looking forward to reopening the Waitlist fully online for the first time,” said JCHA Interim Executive Director Vivian Brady-Phillips. “JCHA staff has worked hard to ensure the new online submission format is rolled out smoothly and we are grateful to the many community organizations that are helping spread the word, dedicating staff and computer access to assist individuals with applications. This community engagement process will not only help individuals qualify for affordable housing, but form a connection to the myriad organizations that provide important community resources.”

JCHA is the state’s second largest public housing authority, serving over 18,000 residents and responsible for the administration of approximately 7,100 housing units, including approximately 2,500 public housing units and over 4,600 Housing Choice Vouchers. The JCHA has been lauded as a champion of energy efficiency and green building practices, policies promoting Section 3 hiring, and an impeccable track record of revitalizing distressed public housing. In addition, JCHA continually seeks to expand partnerships with community organizations to provide an array of services and programming to residents and establish strong referral relationships.

Apply online for public housing from 12:01 am (EST) on Monday, August 6, 2018 through 11:59 pm (EST) on Sunday, August 12, 2018, at JerseyCityHA.myhousing.com. Individuals with special needs, including visual impairment, can call 201-706-4699 for assistance.